Mary Jefferson Bolling

From Thomas Jefferson Encyclopedia

Mary Jefferson Bolling (1741-1804) was Jefferson's older sister. She married John Bolling on January 24, 1760. He was a heavy drinker and they lost four children.

Primary Source References[1]

1783 January 14. (Jefferson to Francis Eppes). "Since I came here there has been sold the Westover copy of Catesby's History of Carolina. It was held near a twelvemonth at twelve guineas, and at last sold for ten. This seems to fix what should be given for Mr. Bolling's coy, if you can induce him to let me have it, which I am very anxious for. Perhaps it would be a temptation to offer that the ten guineas should be paid to Mr. Ross's agent at Nantes, where he could lay them out and send the articles to Mr. Bolling. His draft shall be paid on sight in Paris. Perhaps you had better effect this by making the propisition to Mrs. Bolling. Of this your knowledge of the family will enable you to judge."[2]

1784 April 15. (Martha Jefferson Carr to Jefferson). "Mr. Bollings family is well except my Sister who is I think in a very declineing [sic] State of health."[3]

1785 May 6. (Martha Jefferson Carr to Jefferson). "Mr. Bolling Removes to Chesterfield this Month, his and my sisters situation at present require the consolation of their friends, they have Sustained great losses in their family and bear it badly. Poor Tom had a fall from his horse a little before Christmas which he did not survive two days, and their Daughter Nancy whose Marriage with H. Lewis you hardly heard of Died at fairfields on the tenth of March, her desorder was thought to be an Abcess in her breast."[4]

1785 August 20. (Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Carr). "Your letter of May 6. came to had by Mr. Mazzei on the 22d. of July. I sincerely condole with Mr. Bolling and my sister on their late losses. None can do it fully but those who have been in their situation. You and I have that unfortunate qualification. It would be difficult to find a fibre of the human heart whose sufferings are unknown to me. My losses have left me little more to lose."[5]

1786 April 22. (Jefferson to Anna Scott Jefferson Marks). "Pray remember me to my sisters Carr, and Bolling, to Mr. Bolling and their families and be assured of the sincerity with which I am my dear Nancy your affectionate brother."[6]

1787 May 7. (Elizabeth Wayles Eppes to Jefferson). "Your sister Bolling has favored us with her company a few days, and I was in great hopes Mrs. Carr would have been here before dear Polly's departure as it was not in our power to send her to visit her, being at present without a carriage."[7]

1787 July 23. (Jefferson to Mary Jefferson Bolling). "I received with great pleasure your letter of May3. informing me of your health and of that of your family. Be assured that it is and ever has been among the most interesting things to me...I suppose you are ow fixed for life at Chesnut Grove: I take a part of the misfortune to myself, as it will prevent my seeing you as often as would be practicable at Lickinghole...You mention Mr. Bolling's being unwell, so as not to write to me. He has just been sick enough all his life to prevent his writing to any body. My prayer is therefore only that he may never be worse. Were he to be so, no body would feel it more sensibly than myself...Present me to him in the most friendly terms, to Jack also, and my other nephews and nieces of your fire side and be assured of the sincere love with which I am, dear sister, your affectionate brother."[8]

1787 December 3. (Martha Jefferson Carr to Jefferson). "My sister Bolling has had the misfortune to loos [sic] her youngest son for which loss I hear she is allmost [sic] worn out with grief."[9]

1790 February 8. (Jefferson to John Bolling). "Be so good as to present my affectionate love to my sister & the children..."[10]

1790 October 31. (Jefferson to Mary Jefferson Bolling). "Being to set out for Philadelphia this week, I cannot take my departure without expressing to you my disappointment in having been unable to see you during my stay in the state. I was once obliged to go as far as Richmond, but my business here permitted only four days for that journey...Perhaps the next year I may be able to pay you a visit. Present me affectionately to Mr. Bolling and your children, with wishes for their health and happiness. Accept the same for yourself from dear sister your affectionate brother."[11]

1791 April 6. (Mary Jefferson Bolling to Jefferson). "I receiv'd the favour of yours dated october wherin I found a total disappointment of the happiness I had long flattered my self with of seeing you, it being at a time that our distress cannot be describ'd...You must now permit me to hail you grandfather and I do Sincerely congratulate you on the happy occation [sic] of pat'cyles safe recovery. we anticipate the pleasure of seeing you this spring as your anxiety must be very great to see the little Stranger..."[12]

1791 July 16. (Mary Jefferson Eppes to Jefferson). "Mrs. Monroe and Aunt Bolling are here. My aunt would have written to you, but she was unwell. She intends to go to the North Garden."[13]

1795 July 31. (Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph). "Our own family is all well; the children remarkably so. But the house has been a mere hospital of sick friends. Mrs. Bolling and Polly,and their servants sick."[14]

1797 December 8. (Mary Jefferson Eppes to Jefferson). "My Aunt suffering with hers [toothache?], tho much easier than it has been, she is well otherwise. My Uncle Bolling is much as usual, in a sate of constant intemperance allmost [sic], he is happy only with his glass in his hand, he behaves tho' much better to my Aunt than he did, and appears to desire a reconciliation with her and I think could she hid her resentment of his past behaviour to her, she might render her situation much more comfortable than it is."[15]

1798 January 7. (Jefferson to Mary Jefferson Eppes). "The state of things at Chestnut grove is truly distressing. Mr. B's habitual intoxication will destroy himself, his fortune and family. Of all calamities this is the greatest. I wish my sister could bear his misconduct with more patience. It might lessen his attachment to th bottle, and at any rate would make her own time more tolerable."[16]

1798 March 20. (Mary Jefferson Eppes to Jefferson). "Aunt Carr is return'd from Celies in good health and is at present with Aunt Bolling, who is in tolerable health, the former will be here soon, where she will stay I expect and go up with us."[17]

1798 May 27. (Mary Jefferson Eppes to Jefferson). "I suppose you have not heard of Polly Archers death, render'd more afflicting to Aunt Bolling from her just suspicions that she hasten'd it by her intemperance in eating..."[18]

1801 February 2. (Mary Jefferson Eppes to Jefferson). "If you have not engaged the harpsichord to Aunt Bolling or any one else I will if you please put off chusing between them till April as I fear the Piano will not hold in tune long and I shall be able to jedge by that time."[19]

1804 January 21. (Ann Cary Randolph Bankhead to Jefferson). "I suppose you have heard of Aunt Bolling's death."[20]

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Please note that this list should not be considered comprehensive.
  2. ↑ PTJ, 6:220.
  3. ↑ Ibid, 15:613.
  4. ↑ Ibid,15:618.
  5. ↑ Ibid, 15:620.
  6. ↑ Ibid, 9:397.
  7. ↑ Ibid, 15:637.
  8. ↑ Ibid, 11:612-613.
  9. ↑ Ibid, 15: 640-641.
  10. ↑ Ibid, 16:158.
  11. ↑ Ibid, 17:656.
  12. ↑ Ibid, 20:156-157.
  13. ↑ Ibid, 20:633.
  14. ↑ Family Letters, 134.
  15. ↑ Ibid, 150.
  16. ↑ Ibid, 151.
  17. ↑ Ibid, 158.
  18. ↑ Ibid, 163.
  19. ↑ Ibid, 194.
  20. ↑ Ibid, 254.
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